Intraocular lens structure

Abstract

Presented in several different aspects of the invention is a posterior chamber artificial lens structure adapted for implantation in the human eye. The lens structure includes an assembly comprised of a centrally disposed lens having an optically transparent portion through which light may be transmitted. The centrally disposed optically transparent lens portion is integral with an annular peripheral mounting portion the inner periphery of which is defined by the anchored ends of a plurality of separate support loops spaced circumferentially about the optically transparent lens portion. The outer periphery of the annular peripheral mounting portion is defined by an equatorial surface or edge disposed between the anterior and posterior surfaces of the lens. The separate lens support structures are preferably at least five in number and spaced circumferentially about the lens so that there is a substantially even distribution of separate support forces tending to retain the lens assembly properly positioned and supported on and by the iris in a zone surrounding the pupillary opening.

I claim: 
     
       1. An intraocular artificial lens assembly for surgical implantation in the posterior chamber of a human eye the iris and pupillary opening of which are coaxially symmetrical about the anterior-posterior axis of the eye, comprising: (a) a lens member having a posterior surface including a posterior pole, an interior surface including an anterior pole, an equatorial surface disposed between said posterior and anterior surfaces, said posterior and anterior surfaces being substantially symmetrical with respect to an optical axis including said posterior and anterior poles, a generally centrally disposed optically active portion of predetermined minimum transverse dimension correlated to the pupillary opening, and an annular peripheral portion circumscribing said optically active portion;   (b) at least five separate support means separately mounted on said lens member and projecting radially outwardly past said equatorial surface so as to leave substantial portions of said equatorial surface unobstructed;   (c) at least four of said five separate support means comprising generally U-shaped support loops, each support loop including a pair of spaced legs merging smoothly at one end into an integral curved portion common to both legs of the pair of spaced legs, said integral curved portion lying radially outwardly spaced from said equatorial surface, said spaced legs at their opposite ends being fixed to said lens member in circumferentially spaced relationship;   at least two of said separate support means being mounted on said lens member in a plane perpendicular to said optical axis and arranged to engage selected posterior surfaces of the iris and the remainder of said separate support means being mounted on the anterior surface of said lens member and converging toward said plane to engage selected anterior surfaces of the iris;   said separate support means mounted on the anterior surface of said lens member each having at least one integral support portion embedded in said lens member and extending from the anterior surface in the direction parallel to said optical axis so that said anterior separate support means are spaced from the anterior surface of said lens member, whereby said lens member is adapted to be suspended on the iris with said annular peripheral portion of said lens member and said posterior support means engaging the posterior surface of the iris, with said anterior support means engaging the anterior surface of the iris, and with the integral support portions of said anterior support means adapted to engage the peripheral surface of the pupillary opening in the iris so that the optical axis of the lens member coincides with the anterior-posterior axis of the eye.   
     
     
       2. The combination according to claim 1, in which at least two of said four support loops are adapted to engage the anterior surface of the iris and three of said support means including at least two support loops are adapted to engage the posterior surface of the iris. 
     
     
       3. The combination according to claim 1, in which said at least two of said support loops project radially from said equatorial surface. 
     
     
       4. The combination according to claim 1, in which said separate support means are arranged in relation to a a vertical plane and a horizontal plane within both of which said optical axis is included, at least two of said support loops being symmetrically arranged in relation to at least one of said planes and being bisected thereby. 
     
     
       5. The combination according to claim 1, in which the ends of said legs of said U-shaped loops are anchored to said lens member at points radially outwardly spaced from said centrally disposed optically active portion of the lens member. 
     
     
       6. The combination according to claim 1, in which said five separate support means comprise five generally U-shaped support loops opening toward said optical axis. 
     
     
       7. The combination according to claim 1, in which two of said five separate support means constitute a pair of diametrically opposed support loops. 
     
     
       8. The combination according to claim 4, in which said two diametrically opposed support loops constitute posterior loops engageable with the posterior surface of the iris. 
     
     
       9. The combination according to claim 4, in which said two diametrically opposed support loops constitute anterior loops engageable with the anterior surface of the iris. 
     
     
       10. The combination according to claim 1, in which said at least two of said five separate support means constitute a pair of diametrically opposed support loops, one of said remainder of said five separate support means being cooperatively associated opposite one of said two diametrically opposed support loops. 
     
     
       11. The combination according to claim 10, wherein said remainder of said five separate support means are equally spaced circumferentially about said lens member. 
     
     
       12. The combination according to claim 11, wherein said one of said remainder of five separate support means is a stave adapted to lock behind said one of said two diametrically opposed support loops. 
     
     
       13. The combination according to claim 1, in which three of said five separate support means constitute U-shaped support loops anchored to the anterior surface of the lens member at circumferentially spaced points spaced radially inwardly from the equatorial surface of the lens member. 
     
     
       14. The combination according to claim 13, in which the remaining two separate support means constitute a pair of diametrically opposed support loops having spaced leg portions integral with said curved portions anchored to the lens member at said equatorial surface. 
     
     
       15. The combination according to claim 1, in which two of said five separate support means constitute a diametrically opposed pair of support loops including spaced leg portions the inner ends of which are anchored to said anterior surface of said lens member at points spaced radially inwardly from said equatorial surface, the remaining three separate support means constituting support loops equally spaced circumferentially about said lens member and including spaced leg portions the inner ends of which are anchored to said lens member at points spaced radially inwardly from said equatorial surface. 
     
     
       16. The combination according to claim 1, in which said at least two of said separate support means constitute a pair of diametrically opposed support loops including spaced leg portions anchored to said lens member at said equatorial surface, one of said remaining three separate support means constituting a stave anchored at one end on said anterior surface of said lens and including an axially extending mounting portion adapted to be engaged by the inner periphery of the iris and an integral radially outwardly extending portion the inner end portion of which adjacent said axially extending mounting portion is adapted to engage the anterior surface of the iris while the end portion of the stave remote from the axially extending mounting portion is adapted to engage the posterior surface of the iris and to lock behind an associated one of said pair of support loops, the remaining two separate support means constituting support loops circumferentially spaced from said stave and adapted to engage the anterior surface of the iris. 
     
     
       17. The combination according to claim 1, in which one of said five separate support means constitutes a stave anchored at one end of the anterior surface of the lens and projecting radially outwardly with a portion adapted to engage the anterior surface of the iris, a portion adapted to engage the posterior surface of the iris and an end portion adapted to interengage with one of the remaining four separate support means, two of which constitute posterior support loops and two of which constitute anterior anterior support loops.